Operation Hope Is Still Searching For A Fairfield Property To Call Home

FAIRFIELD, CT — Operation Hope has $1.5 million in state bond money to buy and renovate a new facility, but the nonprofit is still looking for the perfect place to call home.

The funding was approved Tuesday by the State Bond Commission. Operation Hope has been working to prevent hunger and homelessness in the area for over 35 years, but its programs are currently split between two locations: a building on the campus of First Church Congregational, where it has been for 13 years, and its original site at 50 Nichols St.

“We’re still looking for an appropriate property,” said Operation Hope’s executive director, Carla Miklos. “We’re hoping to find a building that will be accessible to people who need us.”

The ideal site would be roughly 12,000 square feet with about 50 parking spaces, and would be located on a bus line or near a train station, in an area such as Kings Highway, Commerce Drive or downtown Fairfield. Purchasing and renovating a new facility is expected to cost several million dollars, according to Miklos, who said Operation Hope plans to rely on bank financing and a capital campaign in addition to the state funding.

“Property is at a premium in this community but we’re dedicated to serving this community and we’re not planning to leave it,” Miklos said.

The facility will contain Operation Hope’s case managers and other resources for people seeking long-term and temporary housing, as well as its food pantry and community kitchen, which offers lunch and dinner service. Operation Hope houses about 500 people annually through its programs. Its food pantry serves up to 1,000 people per year.

“I think from pre-pandemic to where we are now was about a 40 percent increase in usage,” Miklos said. “It impacted a lot of people and many of them haven’t recovered yet.”

The coronavirus pandemic demonstrated how both Operation Hope’s current properties were unable to meet its needs, according to Miklos, who said she would like to find a space that can accommodate growth in the nonprofit’s programs.

“We hope to find a facility where we can adapt to those changes,” she said.

Operation Hope is aiming to be settling into its new home in about two years.